Pete Sorenson for Lane County Commissioner

Who am I?

I am a progressive activist in Eugene, Oregon. Prior to my career in politics, I attended the University of Oregon where I received a B.A. and a law degree. As a student, I helped in successfully protecting the French Pete (no relation) wilderness, which is part of the Three Sisters wilderness area. I assisted in the formation of Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group as well, and had a fine time doing it. I have been constantly working to protect the natural beauty of Oregon since my years from my years as an undergrad, and I have continued to protect the environment upon becoming a lawyer, and public official.
Since 1989 I have been elected to three different offices. I was elected the Lane Community College school board, served as a state Senator, and now work as South Eugene's Lane County Commissioner. I have been working as a Lane County Commissioner since 1997. Ive been working at the county level for fifteen years, dealing with matters of land use, criminal justice, education and social justice as they affect Lane Countys 350,000 people, who live in twelve cities, in suburbs and in rural areas from the Cascades to the coast.
I had the fortune to be raised in a loving two-parent family. My dad was a teacher and my mom was a secretary. Raising my own two children in Eugene, my daughter Jennifer and my son Erik, I learned how much love and effort from parentsand from othersit takes for children to grow strong and healthy. Ive been a Sunday school teacher and a youth soccer coach, and I have seen firsthand how caring adults can transform childrens lives. This sense of family morals, progressive values, insight into our education system, has given me the necessary experience and ability to serve the people of South Eugene.
I have always stood strong for what I believe in, Education, Economy, and the Environment. I have worked on progressive tax measures for local schools, even if it means taking a risky stance. My constituents have rewarded me time and time again for staying true to my values. I have fought to build a sustainable economy, using our natural resources to create jobs without detrimentally damaging our environment. We have seen an increase in small business that is eco-friendly. I have fought to preserve forests, and even won a law suit that initiated national regulations limiting lead in drinking water.

Why am I running?

I ran for office originally because my local Democratic party asked me to serve as Senator. I obliged, but for the years in the senate, I was away from my family. Running for Lane County Commissioner allows me to work full time in my district, and to continue to be a family man. Being a Lane County Commissioner since 1997, I have become invested in protecting and fostering the needs, values, and futures of South Eugene. Through grassroots and people-powered politics, I want to take on new challenges that have presented themselves in Lane County. Currently the challenge is building a progressive majority, since the right wing has fostered initiatives that closed the Lane County extension building, ended the Lane County human rights commission, and furthered the mining of our precious Oregon forests.

My Goals

My top two priorities once elected to office are to solve the Lane County budget crisis, and get Lane County back to work. With the expiration of federal forest land payments, I want to ensure that services that effect veterans, children, and minority population are not on the chopping block. My second priority is to get Lane County back to work. I will use my connections at Lane Community College to partner to get long-time unemployed people retrained for family wage jobs. Our downtown and our sustainable economy in our largest city is booming, and with an increased focus on infrastructure, Lane County can create jobs now, and compete in the future.

My DFA Values

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My Campaign is People Powered!

Our campaign is a grassroots campaign. My campaign manager is a DFA scholar who learned most of his skills from going to Netroots nation, and later working for DFA on the ground in Wisconsin. We are doing a very strong door-to-door campaign powered by volunteers and the support of the community. We are dedicated to engaging old and young voters, and expanding the electorate through voter registration. We have obtained 150 individual donors within our district, in contrast to individual donors of my opponents. (They have 11 combined as of Feb. 9) We are building a campaign based on the support of the people, and it shows in our community involvement and our people powered campaign.

Voice support

27 people support this campaign.


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